Live It Up in Houston

Sunday--Chilaquiles and Culture
Sleep late, but keep in mind that checkout at the InterContinental is noon.

Brunch starts at 11 a.m. at benjy's, a restaurant in Rice Village that locals claim is one of the best for Sunday brunch. Enjoy the blue corn pancakes ($13.95) with orange-almond chicken and honey butter. Or try the Chilaquiles ($11.95), scrambled eggs sautéed with pico de gallo, salsa, tortilla chips, sour cream, and bacon. Make reservations, or you'll wait with the rest of Houston; (713) 522-7602.

After a filling meal, you're ready to hit some of the city's free museums. Visit one of the wackiest places in town--the Artcar Museum, which runs by the motto, "We have fine art on wheels." This small building is filled with cars that rotate in and out on a regular basis. While we were here, we saw a Volkswagen bug covered in Astro turf to look like a shaggy dog.

For something quite different from what you've just seen, visit The Menil Collection. Open from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m., the museum features 15,000 paintings, sculptures, and other works in a naturally illuminated setting.

Even though the art is sophisticated, the down-home allure of Houston during rodeo season may make you want to trade in your pinstripes for ropers.

 
 For More Information
Contact the Greater Houston Convention and Visitors Bureau, 901 Bagby, Suite 100, Houston, TX 77002; (713) 437-5200, 1-800-446-8786, or www.visithoustontexas.com.

The Houston Rodeo
Even city slickers don Wranglers this month when the rodeo gallops into town. The Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo is the top drawing event of its kind in the country. That's not only because of the cowboy competitions, but also because of the amazing concerts and shows that pair with every rodeo. For three weeks in March, crowds fill Reliant Stadium and Reliant Park to enjoy entertainment of all kinds. The Rodeo Parade kicks off the celebration on Saturday, February 26, with more than 4,000 trail riders arriving in town and setting up camp in Memorial Park. The rodeo and all concerts take place March 1-20.

For tickets and official schedules, visit www.hlsr.com, or call (832) 667-1000. Keep in mind that the Reliant Park box office and TicketMaster are the only venues that sell valid rodeo tickets.

This article is from the February 2005 issue of Southern Living. Because prices, dates, and other specifics are subject to change, please check all information to make sure it's still current before making your travel plans.